The Winner Winner ( Chicken Dinner! ) of my Let’s-Celebrate-my-Cuppy-Cake-Grandbaby Give-away is…….Miss Ashley Draper!!! Woooo Hooooo! Hooray for you Sugar! I think it is so fun that although Miss Ashley was picked at random her name is the same as my dear daughter who is blessing me with a sweet little bundle from heaven! Bless you Sugar Pie Ashley….I know you will enjoy these goodies…. and just in time for the Holidays too!

I am so thankful to all of you for leaving me such glorious congratulations on my daughter expecting her first baby and my first grandchild! My goodness, what an outpouring of lovely and endearing sentiments! I loved all of your suggestions as to what I should be called too! (Yes! I read them all!) I haven’t decided on my name yet, fortunately I have until spring to choose! Like most of you said….whatever I am called it will be the sweetest name my ears will ever hear coming from my grand-baby! OH HONEY! I can’t wait!!

Time for another Q and A! I am always so thrilled to receive so many comments from y’all and I wish I could respond back to each and every one. I love to know what your thoughts are. I get a lot of questions and from time to time I like to have a Q and A to share my answers….from my heart to yours! So let’s get started!

Q.Do you decorate for Halloween? I can’t imagine you decorating with fake spiderwebs…

A. Well, my answer is not going to be popular…and that is okay….a gals gotta do what is in her heart…my answer is NO, I do not decorate for Halloween. Here’s why Sugar Pie:

1. I don’t like scary things.

2. I only want to fill my home with happy goodness. Things that promote God’s blessings and bring honor to Him…things that cause me to reflect on good not evil, on life not death, on joy not fear, on light not darkness. Also, children have a difficult time separating what is real and what is not, and I would only want my home to be a place that feels safe and full of comfort and joy.

“Whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things (fix your mind on them). ” Philippians 4:8

3. I understand that the typical Halloween decor of witches, ghosts, and morbid things are “all in fun” but when I read the following scriptures, they confirm my decision: Ephesians 6:12, 3 John 1:11, Deuteronomy 18:9-14, Ephesians 5:11-12, and 1 Corinthians 10:31.

My kids have always dressed up in costumes (non-scary) and they have enjoyed gathering candy from neighbors in the past (by-passing the “haunted” houses) but now we go to our Church Harvest Parties. This year Summer is going to be Strawberry Shortcake and we are attending a Church Fall Festival where they have all kinds of fun games and plenty of candy! It’s a great outreach to the community, offering a safe place for kids and an opportunity for them to hear about the Gospel through a fun program that they put on. It’s amazing to hear how many kids give their heart to the Lord! Families who don’t normally go to church would see the care, joy and love our church members shared and many would begin bringing their family to church. It’s a good thing.

We love to celebrate the delights and goodness that God has blessed us with during the Autumn season…without the scary stuff…and that’s just the way we like to do things down-home at The Farmhouse. (If you hold a different opinion about decorating for Halloween we can still be friends…can’t we?)

Q. Who is the artist that painted the beautiful pictures of homes in your entryway? I see when you decorate for fall and winter, you change the paintings to reflect the seasons. One has a house and fall colors, and one has snow.

This one is titled “Abundant Harvest”….a scene from Napa Valley CA.

This one is titled “Holiday Gathering”…

A. The artist is Thomas Kinkade (click here to find him). His artwork is so charming and full of light…in fact he is called “The Painter of Light”. The windows of the homes that he paints always glow with warmth and coziness….they are so inviting you just wish you could take a peek inside! One way to do so is through his books… in the past few years he has written several novels that reflect the kind of charming small town life that he paints. You can find his books here on Amazon. Here is just a sampling:

These are the kind of books that are great to read on a blustery day, with a cup of hot cocoa, sitting in a comfy chair next to the fire!

Q. Would you please give some tips and how to begin decorating – making a cozy home? Of course, I have the basics furniture wise but somehow it’s not that cozy. And I don’t have a lot of extra money to spend. So how does one start and do you pick one room to work on at a time? How can you do things cheaply?

Photo Source: Country Living

A. Here are a few ideas to start with …more in future posts:

1. Put your apron on…. light a yummy candle…turn the TV off and put on some lovely music! Create a Happy Home Atmosphere! Then it’s always best to start with a clean uncluttered room. Pack up or put away little nick-knacks or things that really don’t speak to you heart. The decorative things that you have, that you love, try grouping them together rather than placing them all around the room. Give your eye places to rest, in other words don’t cover every surface with “stuff”.

2. Start collecting magazine pictures (or ones on the Internet) of rooms that you love….rooms that send a message to your heart this is what HOME looks like….so you can identify your own personal style. Put those pictures in page protectors, then in a notebook, divided into catagories…Kitchen…Family Room…Bedroom..etc. Then start little by little to incorporate some of those ideas.

3. Pretty plates are easy to find, and many times inexpensive, at yard sales or flea markets, even ebay. The picture above shows a great idea to hang them in the middle of vintage frames! I just found on the internet a new way to hang them without using the wire hangers….I haven’t tried them yet but plan to. They are called Dischangers (Disc Hangers) here is what they look like…..

Photo: Country Living

4. How about a palate of whites and creams, it’s very soothing, simple and clean looking. A can of Swiss Coffee White could give your room (and furniture) a whole new look.

5. If you have a fireplace, make that the focal point of the room. I love the mirror that was made out of an old window frame shown in the photo above.

6. Paint the inside of an old cupboard a favorite color.

Photo: Country Living

7. I love the mis-matched chairs in this photo painted white…you could find these one at a time at flea markets…bring them home and paint them white. Before you know it you’ll have enough to sit around your kitchen table.

Photo: Country Living

8. Set the table for the next meal. It looks homey and sends a loving message to your family that you will be serving up a meal later to warm their tummies! (love the painted coffee can vases!)

Photo: Country Living

9. If you have a collection of something, keep them gathered together, as I mentioned above. Keep it simple and uncluttered and make sure it blesses your heart when you look at them.

10. Scented candles and a little lamp in the corner of your kitchen counter always cozies up the room. A warm glow in the kitchen is a homey delight for the eyes.

11. Think about how you want your home to feel. Most of all you and your family should feel loved and nurtured. I love the mood that Ma on Little House on the Prairie set in her home….she had a tenderness and grace that made her family feel safe, secure, comforted and cozy. She had grit ….and was never lazy. She did what had to be done in a day. But she knew how to laugh too! She was dependable and fun-loving! The mother sets the tone in the home! These are the things that really make a home cozy. It’s more about the tender, loving, care that we fill our homes with. The other “stuff” is just frosting on the cake.

Healthy expressions of love must be carefully cultivated in the home environment, so that children go out into the world with the right ideas about what love is, what it isn’t and how to demonstrate it to others. ~ William Coleman

88 Comments

oh my goodness thank you JESUS!!! and ruth ann!!! i don’t even remember there being a giveaway!! ha ha ha!!! so that puts me in a super happy delighted spirit!!! yippee!!! here’s what i have written on my southern living bow-plate thingy that i keep in my kitchen…”make your house the kind of home you would want to have lived in when you were a child”….it’s one of my most favorites of all time!!! and also…AMEN to the decorating for halloween ideas!! i’ve even gone on to extend that to my daughter’s clothing…there’s a lot of skull and cross bones for girls these days in fashion…i’ve even seen bedding with pink and black skulls on it…that doesn’t promote life and light (grrrrr!!!)! i love all your ideas…i think you need your own tv show…coming your way soon with the family…i always think of you when we head that way! thanks so much again…you are such a huge blessing in my life…you don’t even know!!! praying this week is especially blessed for you!!!! ~ashley~

Love all of your decorating tips. :) I agree that having a happy, homey atmosphere is such a blessing to your family. Creating an environment that you love to live in is so important when creating a cozy home. Your home seems to be the perfect example of all things loving, joyful and beautiful. :)
And let me extend a big ol’ congratulations to you and your daughter on the good news of a grandbaby on the way! What a blessing! May God have His hand on your little bundle of joy. :)

a BIG HOWDY HO to the Sweet Birthday Girl, Hope your day is filled with warm smiles, tender hearts, kind words and laughter.
The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you
with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17
What a blessing you are to sooooo many of us, I thank the Lord for you and your willingness to serve. Happy Birthday Sweet Sister,
Ranching Momma

Ruthie, I cant tell you how giddy with excitement I get anytime I see you have posted a new blog. I always look forward to your beautiful home pictures. Our home is in limbo right now….its a 100 yr old farmhouse thats been in the family since its being, we are remodling and such to keep it going so besides my bathroom at the moment, the rest of the house is array. I feel like it will all come together when I read your blog. Thanks, Erica

Thank you so much for sharing your decorating ideas. I have a wall that needs a little something and I am unsure of what to put there. I really like the idea of grouping. I’m going to see what my heart calls out for and work with that. Thank you for being so inspirational both in decorating and spiritually.

Happy Birthday to you !
You are a blessing to so many it is true.
Congratualtions to Ashley who won ! How fun for her.
My question would be (if you are still taking them…)
What do you do ( I just know you do something) for your older, married ones to make them continue to feel special.. do you send care packages, letters etc???
Love Branson, most especially The College, and the yummy Keeter center ( my favorite restaraunt, hands down, anywhere.) They make the best birthday cakes for our miss Sara each year when we visit.
Wishing you a yummy birthday full of love .
Lori

What a lovely post, and congratulations to Ashley (the winner) and again to Ashley (the new mom-to-be)! LOL I had a new idea! You say “Oh, Honey” a lot! One of my most ‘favoritest’ aunts was called HONEY by all her grandchildren! I think it originated because they always heard my uncle calling her ‘Honey’. And you certainly are sweet…so you could always be your grandbabies’ HONEY! Just tossin’ more ideas into the pot! LOL
Take care and thanks for being such an inspiration!
Love and Hugs,
Amy O/picketfencemom

Great answers on the Halloween Q & A. Congratulations to the winner Ashley on the giveaway!
I love all those photos from Country Living, but would LOVE IT EVEN MORE if you’d share more pics from your cozy home decorated for fall!
Thanks so much, I always love my time spent at Sugarpie Farmhouse!!

Wow, I couldn’t agree more with all of your thoughts on decorating and halloween. I too dress my home for Autumn instead. I feel that we already live in a “culture of death” (as Pope John Paul 2 called it)…why would I want to invite that into my home? We need to build a culture of life, and we can do that even in the way we decorate! May the Lord bless you richly…thank you for being such a wonderful inspiration, and for having the courage to speak the truth:)

I just loved your tips. I have recently just given great thought to how I want my home to FEEL as well as how I want it to look. Something amazing about considering that it can look any way we want it to, but if it doesn’t welcome those who need to be welcomed, what’s the point. And I want the love of Jesus to just exude from my home and warm the hearts of every guest! Those decorating tips were fantastic too.

Also, I really loved what you said about Halloween. I heartily agree, and the only Halloween decorations I set out are some cute candles that say “boo” because I made them.

Congrats to Ashley! Aunt Ruthie, grand babies are just the best. I am so very happy for you. You must be floating on a cloud! I had to smile when I read how you feel about Halloween. We have been doing the same thing for years. When we lived in the city and children would come to our door, we would hand them candy and wish them a happy harvest. I don’t decorate for Halloween, but do decorate for fall. Our church has a fall festival every year. We play games and the children dress up and of course you just have to have candy. The families have a great time and we know the kids are safe. We usually have it in the parking lot if the weather is nice, but once in awhile we will take it into fellowship hall.
I would also like to thank you for your inspiring posts. I look forward to them with great anticipation. You are such a blessing to us all.
Love, Gretchen

I enjoyed the question and answer’s…I don’t agree with you on Halloween though. As we raised our 8 children and now 19 grand children, we have had a lot of fun as a family with Halloween. I don’t like the scary part of it either, but there can be a fun side….making homemade donuts together..making treats for the grands, skeleton cupcakes(they are so cute)…having a big party with delicious food and fun games and stories that teach children to not be afraid of things that scare them. I only go in for the cute of it all and we have a lot of fun.
Come see my blogg…nothing scary here! :D

I don’t decorate for Halloween either. I am not fond of the holiday at all. In previous years, my children have dressed up in non-scary outfits…but I think this year we are just going to *not* dress up either. Costumes are so expensive…and actually…my kids usually get annoyed in their costumes after a short time! LOL They are having a trunk or treat at church (where people dress up as bible characters and tell a short story about their character and pass out candy from their trunk)…followed by a kids overnighter at the church…so we will have a fun evening despite skipping the dress up part! *I am painting faces at the event too!*

Enjoyed your post! I am a Ma Ingalls Wannabe….I am always loving the coziness of having candles lit around my home…sweet fragrances in the air, lovely music and laughter…along with my home being tidy…that is what I strive to create each and every day at my home! I love it and am so blessed and completely thankful! :)

Yay for Ash! Ashley Draper is on of my very best girlfriends, Ruthann, did I ever tell you that???!!! And our little girls are BFF’s! I am so happy for her!!! And that necklaces looks just. like. her!!! It was meant to live at her house-how wonderful that you are so generous to share your blessings with others! You are our favorite bloggie! Congrats again! And Congrats to YOUR little redheaded Ashley. You know I love those red heads, being one myself! ;)

I agree 100% on Halloween! I have come to dread Oct. 31. But I do think dressing up, candy, and carved pumpkins can be lots of fun – so long as they are pleasant. I love what you said about filling your home with “happy goodness.”

Thanks also for the decorating tips. I have been reading a decor book, Decorating without Fear, and looking around my house thinking “What can I do here?” :)

Ruthie — thank you! When I saw you had a new post, I knew you would have written words of affirmation for today and that when I read them I’d be encouraged. Reason is — I’m uplifted and encouraged every time I’ve ever read your posts :) Cool, huh?
For real — you have a lovely and God-given gift with words. Thanks for the encouragement.

I agree with Amy O. who suggested your Grandmother name needs to be “honey” — that would totally be appropriate, since that’s your “signature statement” :)

Also, I have a blog about Halloween and the celebration of the day, planned for next week. I’ve thought how to go about gently, but firmly stating my belief about the day. You’ve said it so beautifully, I may just direct my readers over to your post. :) I really think for me it is all about “speaking life”, not death. All of life, every moment, every word is about choosing life or death. I love, love, love Fall and decorate the house to the rafters and welcome all trick or treaters with sweet treats and words of life. Thanks for sharing.

Great home decorating tips… I gleam over a few favorite mags as well. and dont get me started on Thomas Kincade that was my hobby collecting his pieces… I have a certified HUGE print of his framed that I have yet to hang up in my farm home because I cant locate big enough anchors to support the heavy piece..lol. Loving what you doing with your site and blessings to the new to be bundle of lov’n JOY.

Thank you again for such a wonderful post Aunt Ruthie. It wasn’t until several years ago that I discovered I did not like Halloween one bit. Right afterwords I met my husband who did not like it as well. So I decorate for Autumn at our home. Thank you for your positive ideas on what we should do! I must say this alot to you but “you are an inspiration to me in soooo many ways!” At the end of a long day when I have cleaned up double he amount and I feel like I take one step forward and 20 back I turn to you. Thank you for being an encouragement!

Thanks for the decorating tips. Remember the picture you posted where a rosy-cheeked man is coming in with an armful of wood? I’m using that as my inspiration for my kitchen decoration. It spoke “home” to me. So I’ve made white ruffled curtains and have my eye open for red and white checked cloth tablecloths. I already have an oil lamp and a rosy-cheeked husband!

I also made plum jam. Ruby sweet and delicious! I printed out that entire post and put it in my home binder for reference. Again, thanks for the inspiration and tips. I am putting them to use, and my home is becoming so much nicer! God bless you.

Hi, Aunt Ruthie!
I just loved your newest post here – your decorating ideas are new to me, and so easy to do. I get a little overwhelmed when I read decorating “how-to” books – Lol !! Thanks for the inspiration – now I’ll get busy making my apt. “feel” like home!

Thank you for your ideas and elevating peace and beauty in the home…which is my ever-ending goal (living in a 150 yo farmhouse with not enough space or storage). Can you post about when to save/when to throw away, clutter, storing all those pretty things that make a home? Thank you!
Kathy

I really appreciate your explanation of why you don’t celebrate Halloween. I was raised in a Christian home and we never celebrated the holiday. Lately, though, I’ve been trying to decide whether or not I should get a few decorations for Halloween (we have a baby now and he puts me in the mood to decorate for everything!!)…it’s the whole “just for fun” reasoning, I guess.. BUT, after I read your explanation, I realized what I should do. I think the reason I’ve been struggling to decide is b/c deep down I knew I really shouldn’t. But your explanation totally sealed the deal. Everything you said made sense! I couldn’t agree more. The scriptures you gave were very helpful. Thanks!

Dear Ruthann
I am a 44 year old”swiss girl” , blessed with a wunderfull man and two also wunderfull sons, aged 11 and 7. Pleas excuse my english;-)
I just wanted to tell how much Your blog means to me. Your blog came in the absolute right moment to me and filled my heart with so much joy. I went through a rough time the last half year and Your blog helped me to trust in my power as mother and trust in Gods love. I love what You say about familiy life, about the importance of a warm and cozy home for the family and last but not least, I love absolutely Your farmhouse!
Is it possible to recive Your email adress, because I have a personal question, that I don`t dare to tell here.

I love you blog and the friendly atmosphere of it. There is so much joy in your posts, so I have awarded you a Friendship Award – although I’m sure you’ve had lots of awards. I look forward to reading your posts and settle down with a cup of coffee to catch up – keep it up!
Jade

Aunt Ruthie, thank you for the great tips! In the last few weeks your blog/website/forum have inspired me to actually start making my house a HOME… something I had been afraid to do after spending the last thirteen years moving once or twice a year. Hope you had a great birthday!

Aunt Ruthie,
What a lovely post of Q & A. I love hearing your wonderful thoughts. The ideas on making our homes cozy are just wonderful. I will be implementing some of these that I do not have in my home.
Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Every time I read the posts from you and those who follow, I think how wonderful it will be when we all get to heaven worshiping our Jesus together. You are such an inspiration. My house has never been so clean. : )

I enjoyed reading your sweet thoughts on celebrating in the fall season with all but the scary and dark stuff. My sister, Kelly Jo, and I always dressed up for the holiday in costumes Momma sewed for us…usually bunny rabbits and flowers and hobos and pumpkins and so on. I enjoy handing out candy to the kids that come by with their parents because I remember that being sweet and innocent and fun when I was a child. However, I also am uncomfortable with the dark stuff (even though it’s most of the time intended to be “fun”, it’s just not for me). Now that my firstborn, Amelia Kate, is 2.5 yrs, that stuff is starting to scare her, which furthers me to bypass that part of the holiday in our home, too! The scripture you mentioned from Phil. is the one I think about that had lead me toward that decision. I want to teach my family (including myself!) to focus on the GOOD stuff in this life (’cause there’s plenty of it)! Have a wonderful, wonderful weekend!!

I have always had the same feelings as you about October decorating.I fill my home with sights and smells and tastes of the fall season.The colors are like the changing of the leaves in the “Smoky Mts.”My children are away at college, and when they come to visit….they walk through the door and are taken back by the smells…then the visual bounty of colors and decorations of the gifts the Lord has given to us.They LOVE coming home, and that is my goal.To give them that safe harbor.I thank the Lord He has granted you another year on this earth that I may get to know you better.The Lord bless you!

Hey girlfriend! Did I miss something in your post about a birthday? Happy birthday fabulous friend! And I TOTALLY agree with you on Halloween. What a great answer you gave explaining it too. Think I’m going to steal ah I mean borrow it and print it out to hand out to friends when I get those questions! We did Halloween when my kids were little until about 15 years ago when I got a good dose of the real ghost…the Holy Ghost and had a complete change of heart. LOL I swept the house clean of all that stuff and bought only “fall”! The Lord says in Deuteronomy “I set before you life and death….choose life so that you AND your descendants might live.” That means good, happy things just like you explained. We certainly don’t need to be bringing “death and fear” into our homes….too many people have a spirit of fear about them anyway! Always saying ‘I’m afraid (blank) is going to happen.” That’s another sermon altogether! Anyway…great post as usual. And congrats to Ashley! Both of them!
Have a great fall y’all! May blessings abound!
Patti

Hi there,
We are leaving tomorrow for Branson, heading your way, can you please share with me a few of your favorite stores there for primitive/country decor? I hope you have the the time to share with me. Thank you and I love your blog.
Congrats on the new baby!
Hugs
Sharon

I just had to leave a post to say I love your website and your beautiful faith in Jesus is so apparent. It is so nice how you worded why you do not celebrate Halloween. We have not since the kids were little.(My babies 22 and 15 now). It is hard to explain to some believers and others that it is not honoring God and leaves our homes and hearts open to things that are not of Him. Well written in a kind and educational way with Scripture to back it all up. God will bless you for that!!! Happy news on the upcoming grandbaby! Nothing shows God’s love more then the creation of life. I am a nurse and worked in the nursery; it was breathtaking every delivery to see the miracle. But to have a grandbaby to spoil that is a blessing !!!

Hi Ruthann and Happy Birthday!! Congratulations to Ashley, the winner, and again to your sweet daughter Ashley! I loved the suggestion of Honey for a name for you as grandmother! I love everything you said in your post today! What the world needs now is more Aunt Ruthie!!!,……God Bless You!!
xoxoxo

I agree and I have always had the same mind set that you have about this time of year and decorating. Every time I would think “oh go on and decorate the other way” my heart would just say no… I didn’t even hand our candy for the longest time… I do now in the same manner.

Fall to me is the wonder of the leaves changing the crispness in the air and the around my parts (TX) the beginning of the German Festivals… It is the start of all the wonders of the next two seasons…

I really loved this post. :) I especially liked your scripture references. We do not decorate ‘scary’ for Halloween either and usually attend our church’s Hallelujah Night rather than trick or treating. Your posts are like a breath of fresh air, Aunt Ruthie!

I love your Halloween beleif! My Niece who now is 19 did not want to go out trick or treating because of the scary noises and scary things on their porches..so she would get dressed up all cute and give out candy with her dad while her mom and sister went out! lol We always decorated with cute things.

Thank you for your posts. I click back often to see if you have added any new information. I am finding myself getting excited when I notice that your picture has changed on the “Farmhouse” opening page. “Oh good, she wrote a knew post.” My friends and family have began to tease me about my excitement. No worry. Thank you again for adding a little touch of love, happiness, home, and joy to so many lives. God Bless.

This is going to sound strange, but I got shivers all over my scalp reading your writing–how true, how right. You have a way of expressing it that lovingly tells your point. God has given us gorgeous things; how gracious He is. Keep up the great work, sister!! Ahh, right now I have a 2nd window open on the computer just to hear your playlist while I’m reading this “from my heart to yours”. Thanks!

What a wonderful quote at the end of your post. I’ve seen so many examples lately of how healthy expressions of love are not being cultivated in people’s homes and children are suffering because of it. Thank you for your wise words and wonderful decorating tips.
-Amy

We don’t decorate for Halloween either over here :) Up until now, I thought we were the only ones. I also love your Thomas Kinkade pictures. I enjoy his work also but I have never thought about hanging them in some of our rooms. What a great idea!

A resounding “Amen” to your views on Halloween and scripture to back it up! I just smiled when I saw the polkadotted pumpkin & cute chalkboard sign. I still have yet to find that right chalkboard for my kitchen.
Question: Will we ever see how beautifullly decorated your bedroom is? Or a guestroom?
I know many of us dream of staying & having some pie with you and chit chatting about all kinds of wonderful things like God, family, decorating, cooking, girly things, etc!
God bless ya!

Dear Aunt Ruthie: Thank you for blessing we readers with such kindness……..it’s definitely ‘sunshine reading’ whenver you plan out and post a “new bit of Godly freshness” ……. this really IS a lovely place to ‘stay awhile’ Ruthie.

I am like you about Halloween. I love to decorate my home in fall items rather than Halloween items. Your house is always so cozy and inviting.
I collect the Thomas Kinkade paintings too. I have several and love them all. I am actually collecting the Disney princess ones in honor of my daughter who recenlty passed away. She would have loved them all. Thomas Kinkade is truly the “Painter of Light”. His brother Patrick has highlighted several of our paintings.
Thanks for sharing.

We don’t celebrate Halloween either, but love the harvest season. We also believe in walking in the Light, as He is in the Light! And harvest time is so meaningful in a spiritual sense, I love the song, “Come Ye Thankful People, Come”. It’s just a great picture of a spiritual harvest that we can look forward to. I really loved this post!

I love your philosophy about Halloween decorating and I agree! I adore the fall season so much, my family room is in fall colors year round! We put a hay bale, scarecrow (not too scary – LOL) and pitchfork on the porch along with gourds, pumpkins and corn. It looks wonderful! And best of all, I get to have it up from October 1st through the Friday after Thanksgiving! Almost 2 full months of harvest goodness! My hubby says it looks like home when he walks up to the front door every evening. That just warms my heart…
Love you and all you do!

what a inspiration…i just had my ruthann check! you know when i say i need a recording of you and your inpiration each and every mornin’ before my feet hit the floor…well i just had it…thank you…

you inspire so many ladies miss ruthann…God has given you such a special gift and i am so thankful you have ministered to us ladies…you are making and teaching us just how He desires our homes to be warm and loveing. Thank you…

Ok can i just say I miss you!!!! oh my oh my…this is our time, this is when we would hit the crow, chit chat over our yummy pumpkins…and wear brown!!!!!! I am so sure you are enjoyin’ those orange and yellow trees of the Ozarks…ahhhhhhh breath-taking!

I am so excited your gonna be granny ruthie…oh my…what blessings…my heart is fluttering with happiness for you! how is miss ashley feeling?

How is the story comming…Amaray can’t wait to hear more…well ok…i am just dying too! We need it! Tell her best friend hi…lol

Aunt Ruthie,
Another lovely post as always. I’m praying every day for you and your daughter during the pregnancy, God bless you and your daughter during this time and forever. I absolutely love the non-scary ideas, I never really thought about the whole showing darkness instead of light, scary instead of happy ideas, thank you. Although you have done so much for me already, could you please take a picture of Summer in her costume. I’d absolutely love to see her all dolled up.
Love always,
Sarah Miriam

I love all your decorating tips. I understand how you about decorating for Halloween and share your feelings for the same reasons. I don’t care what other do in this regard, but for me, it just doesn’t feel right.

I just stumbled upon your site by going through favorites of several people over a few days time. I absolutely LOVE it here! I agree totally with your views on not decorating for Halloween. I love to decorate with fall/harvest themes throughout late Sept – Nov. I cannot wait to go through the rest of your site for some great reading and ideas. Blessing to you and your family. And Grats on the grandbaby! :)

I so appreciated the fact that you shared from your heart your thoughts on decorating for Halloween and also included the scriptures. It does my heart good to know there are other women out there that feel the some way I do. Just loved the photo of you and the girls each holding a pumpkin. Have a great week. What yummy fall treat is on this week’s menu?

As a Christian sister I was so very proud of the answer you gave for not decorating for Halloween. Your explanation was exactly right. It not only glorified God it was said in a loving nonjudgemental way.I’m very proud of you and I love, love, love your web site.
Blessings, Cherie

Thank you so much for sharing your convictions about halloween. It was a confirmation from the Lord for me. I have struggled for years now, because my mom always made a big ta-do over every holiday, including halloween. Nothing too scary, but she did use the cartoon black cats, witches, ghosts and skeletons. It was always fun for me. My 3 year old son is really noticing the scary stuff on bill boards and in stores this year, and he has started having nightmares about them. I used the verse from Philippians just the other day, when we passed one of the bill boards and I talked to him about how – when we see things like that we should just look away. And that that is why the Lord gave us that verse. I’ve been reminding him of it when I pray with him at night. I just see things differently now, through his eyes. Funny how the Lord will use your children to change you, or change your mind rather. But, thank you for sharing this. It’s nice to know someone else feels the same way:) ~Blessings!

I love your blog and the sweet spirit that comes through every entry you post! I just want to say how much I appreciate your answer to the Halloween decoration question. It is so refreshing to read. Our family focuses on harvest also, not Halloween. I do not want to sound judgmental to others but I have never understood why it is popular to focus on scary, evil images, death and darkness. You are wise to look to scripture for the examples of what we look at and set our minds on.

I really appreciate you taking the time to do that! Thanks so much and blessings to you!

Thank you for sharing. Right now my husband and I (along with our three girls, 5; 2 and 10 days old) are living with my In-Laws. My mother in law and I have different tastes in everything…so it is difficult at this point to put most of your suggestions into practice. However, you are 100% correct in the fact that Mom sets the tone….

What a LOVELY post! I really enjoy visiting here. You have some great ideas…it was really sweet of you to take the time to answer all those questions so thoughfully.

Thomas Kinkade is one of my favourite artists as well…his pictures (especially of homes…especially at Christmas) are so homey and inviting! There is a story behind how we aquired the Thomas Kinkade picture we have hanging in our dining room…God is so GOOD!

I didn’t make it in time for the giveaway, but thought I’d leave a comment about grandma names anyway. My sisters and I call one of our grandmas “Gram”, and I hope to also be a Gram someday. I have lots of wonderful memories of being little and staying at Gram and Pa’s house. But, one I thought you might be interested in is “Nona” or “Nonna”. It is what my children call my mother. It is Italian for grandmother, and I thought I remembered you saying that you are Italian! Thanks for all you posts. I truly admire you.

Hi Ruthann, thank you so much for your encouraging words. I love reading your blogs and sometimes I think your words of scripture are just for me! I am a simple country girl trying to make it in a very fast kind of life and love going back to the basics of \Ma\ or \Aunt Bee\ way of life… love your farmhouse, it is beautiful. Happy Fall
Anita C.

Oh!!!! During your contest I couldn’t come up with a name for your soon-to-be new role in life, but I was getting silly with a girlfriend and told her: Don’t hold it against me that my kids are grown, because I am holding out for grandkids one day, and I can see them lolling about on my living room carpet, perched upon a quilt made my grandmoi….” I was simply playing upon words, meaning I made the quilt (uh, in case you didn’t get that lol). Anyhoo, that is what my grandkids are just gonna have to call me. Grandma, with a twist! Love it!!!

I REALLY enjoy reading your blog. Thank you for your comments about Halloween. I don’t feel right decorating with scary stuff (ghosts, spiders, blood, or grave sites) Thank you for stating so. I like to think on things that are lovely:) LOVE all the inspirational pics!

What an inspiring and heart-felt post as always. What a blessing you are to bless so many with your talents and your love for the Lord. Thank you. I could just give you a hug!

I love your Q and A posts and appreciate you taking the time to do them.

This comment would have fit better in the previous post, but here it is anyway.

The finest and most treasured gift my grandmother blessed me with was a love for the Lord. She would speak the scriptures and sing hymns to us. I remember begging her to stay up just a little longer after grandpa had gone to be. She, of course, would relent and sing to me. We then went to be on a special feather-tick (made by her) bed that she had made up on the floor for us. It was a treasure for me last Saturday night to lay out the same feather tick for my own precious grandbabies to sleep on. Oh, the blessings of little children…and of grandmothers.

Has anyone else had problems with the play list on this site? The last two nights, it starts playing then stops—it does this over and over. I thought that it wasn’t done streaming so let it finish, but that doesn’t seem to matter. I also refreshed the page several times and rebooted the site several times. Any suggestions?

Thank you for being truthful about your stand on Halloween. You’re right, it is NOT the popular view, but it is the same stand that I take and it’s good to see I’m not alone! Great verses to stand on, too! Our church also has a Harvest party for the children, and it is a safe, wonderful way for the kids to not feel left out of the fun and yet to celebrate God’s faithfulness and goodness in the ways that He blesses us, and celebrate the Light not the darkness.

I still remember your post last year about decorating for fall (lighting the candle, turning on the music, etc.); or was that 2 years ago?

Have enjoyed your blog for a long time. Yours was the first place I saw Finetune.com. I set up several wonderful playlists for myself, different types for different moods. I included some from yours that I wasn’t familiar with and they’ve become some of my favorites. I just love the Boswell Sisters. Thank you so much.

I know we are all goig thru withdrawals for a new blog updt. We miss you more than you know. It’s been a dreary couple of weeks in NE and we need some sweet things to read from auntie! Hope you are enjoying the season!

I just love your blog. I have been a follower in the past, but had problems with your new site. I am not as computer savy as some and it took me a while to learn how to get around it. Thank goodness I have. I love all of your tips and inspiration. I am a fellow christian and love all of the spiritual inspiration that is just a part of your life. I feel as if you are a friend that i haven’t met yet. Thanks for sharing.

Ruth Ann, I love your Spiritual Inspiration and tips on how to have a cozy home. I want my home to be the kind of home that my family would not want to leave because they have the best there. Thank You for sharing your wisdom and faith in the Lord. I feel like you are a friend that i haven’t met yet.

Thanks for sharing your Christmas decorating and wisdom for all of us homemakers at Christmas Time. I enjoy your “Blog” so much and can’t wait for the next one to appear on my computer. I am decorating my home right now for Christmas and wrapping gifts. The Lord has blessed us and we treasure His Goodness and Mercy. Thanks Ruthie.